Matthew 6:14

Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: (KJV)

(NIV) For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Our youngest Sunday School class at Mayberry has been working on learning The Lord’s Prayer. In yesterday’s devotion reading, part of the scripture included the special prayer that our Lord taught the disciples. I didn’t realize in the next two verses following the prayer, that Jesus emphasized one particular portion from this prayer.

The verse for this week is the first verse that follows The Lord’s Prayer, and forgiveness is the theme of this verse. At Christmastime we celebrate the birth of Jesus – the coming of God in the flesh. Why? Because God desired for us to be with him in eternity, he had to provide a perfect sacrifice for us to be forgiven of our sins. God loves us so much, but our sin separates us from fellowship with him. Because of Jesus’ coming to die in our place, we have forgiveness of sins and peace with God.

Forgiveness is a big deal. Our Lord says in his model prayer: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Our verse for this week that follows just two verses later again says, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:” and the next verse adds even more emphasis, “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” We are to be in the practice of forgiving others when they sin against us.

My Bible commentary says that this is a warning to us. If we refuse to forgive others, then God will not forgive us. If we don’t forgive others, it is like we are saying we are more worthy of God’s forgiveness than the one we won’t forgive. But God does not show partiality, we are all sinners in need of forgiveness. There are no greater or lesser sinners in God’s eyes – we are all sinners. The murderer is no worse than someone who gossips. Though the consequences may be greater in one case than the other, both are still sin and both will separate us from God and keep us from heaven if we don’t claim the forgiveness that Jesus paid for us on the cross.

This Christmas become like the wise men who visited the Christ child and seek God for yourself. Accept the gift of forgiveness that Jesus purchased for us and begin to practice the forgiveness of others in order to experience peace on earth for yourself this year.

I hope you have a blessed Christmas and a New Year filled with peace and happiness!

Psalm 8:1-2

Psalm 8:1-2 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens. (2) Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. (KJV)

(NIV)O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. (2) From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

Last month many people celebrated Halloween and used the opportunity to dress up and take their children door to door to collect candy treats. However, for some people, it was a very dark time in which Satan delighted. This month we celebrate Thanksgiving. You may wonder – how are these two holidays in any way related? I would like to propose that thankfulness and praising Jesus can take away that awful darkness that Satan would love to have you remain in.

Many years ago, I went to IMPACT at The University of Findlay (although it was not called IMPACT at that time) and heard a speaker by the name of Frances Gardner Hunter. She was famous for praising the Lord in any and all situations – even embarrassing and hurting situations. She stated that one time while she was speaking the platform collapsed, and she lost her wig. She was embarrassed and her pride was a little hurt, but she said she simply stood back up and said, “Well, praise the Lord, anyway!”

Also, about twenty years ago, I had a very frightening experience. My son, Paul and I had just gotten in our van and started up the street. I heard a popping sound and next thing I knew, the van was on fire. I immediately shut off the engine and got my son out of the van. We were helpless to do anything and all I could think to do was pray the name of Jesus. I just said, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!” over and over again. But you know, the name of Jesus was enough. Help came and we were safe. Yes, we had to get another van, but God provided for my son and me and we were safe because of the name of Jesus.

My grandchildren have also reminded me to praise and honor the name of Jesus. Near the end of October we were sitting at the table having dinner and Darren, who is 6 years old, all of a sudden breaks into singing “Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is your name…” My son, Paul, commented, “This is just like ‘Little House on the Prairie.’” Praise the Lord for happy times like these! Just two weeks ago, we were taking a hike in the woods and right out of the blue, Alexa, my four-year old granddaughter, starts singing the same praise song, “Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is your name…” How appropriate with seeing all of the beauty that God had created in nature.

You can best believe when all that praise is going up, Satan is no where to be found. As it says in our verses for this week, “…you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.” Satan detests the name of our Lord. He knows that at the name of Jesus, he is defeated forever. So, if you feel that you are in darkness or that Satan is working on you, kick him right out of your life with praise, thankfulness and especially the name of Jesus! Start offering your praises right now

Romans 8:26

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (KJV)
(NLT)(26) And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. (27)And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

I was looking at a new calendar that I received from Ron Hutchcraft ministries this morning. On the month of June, there was a picture of two pairs of hands on some clay on a potter’s wheel. The caption, written by Ron Hutchcraft, said, “Prayer is a gift for you to give to people every day.” The large title of the month was “Encouragement.” Obviously, the larger hands were helping the smaller hands to form something from the clay on the potter’s wheel. An adult or more experienced person was “encouraging” a younger, more inexperienced person, to shape the clay properly. But the most encouraging part of the whole double page, for me, were the words on the calendar that said, “Lord Jesus, thank You for all the prayers You have prayed for me.”

As I thought about those words on the calendar – that Jesus was praying for me - our verse for this week came to mind. “For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” The Holy Spirit prays for us. He knows what is in our hearts and helps our words become expressed in “harmony with God’s will.” When we don’t know how to pray about a situation, God, through the Holy Spirit, will help us “with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” Imagine that – our Saviour prays for us!

Another realization came to me from Ron Hutchcraft’s words: “Prayer is a gift for you to give people everyday.” How true that is! Prayer is powerful and we can give it to our loved ones, our friends, even our enemies every day. And we can ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for us when we don’t really know what to pray about a situation. He already knows what is in our hearts and what our sincere desires are.

Do you give the gift of prayer to someone, lots of someones or no one? Start sharing the wealth of prayer today! The Holy Spirit will help you! He prays for us!

Deuteronomy 6:9

Deuteronomy 6:9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. (KJV)
(New Living Translation) Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Recently we were encouraged to fly our American flags in remembrance of those who died in the 9/11 tragedy in 2001. Many of us did just that. I also saw many signs posted that said, “We shall never forget.” I feel that these things were very good to do and very appropriate. But have you ever noticed what many other “flags,” signs, banners, bumper stickers and even hats and shirts promote? Some of these are not so appropriate or even in good taste, at least to my way of thinking.

In our verse for this week, we are “commanded” (vs. 6) to not only write the words the “Lord your God is one” and “love [Him] with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your strength,” but these words should be “in your heart (vs. 6,) and you shall “teach them to your children” (vs. 7,) “talk of them when you sit in your houses, and when you walk by the way…,” (vs. 7) “bind them as a sign on your hand,” (vs. 8) and have them “be as frontlets between your eyes” (vs. 8.) The things that should be on our flags, signs, banners, bumper stickers, hats and shirts should be about God and how He is Lord and about how much we love Him and about how much He loves us.

We sometimes “loudly” support various causes and that may be okay, but God tells us in the Bible that we need to be telling our households, others around us and even the world about Him. There is a song we sing at Christmas time that says, “Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.” But that is not the only time we need to talk about our Lord. We need to “diligently” teach our children about the ways of God and what he requires of us. Most importantly, we need to tell about Jesus and the work he did for us on the cross to make us right with God. Deuteronomy 6:6 uses the strong word “command” in reference to keeping God’s words.

This past Sunday was Grandparents Day. Many grandparents have diligently taught their children and grandchildren about God. My prayer is that this generation of parents and grandparents will continue to teach our children about our Lord and about obedience to Him. Even if you are not a parent, you can still proclaim your love for Him in the way you live and on the “flags” that you fly. Do people who live around you know who you serve? What is on your doorpost, your bumper or on your shirt? I pray that it is something that honors our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:17

Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (KJV)
Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. (NIV)

My granddaughter, Alexa, who is four, is always doing just what her older brother does. The other evening when Darren, my grandson who will soon be 6, was helping me fix dinner, Alexa wanted to help too. I gave Alexa a little different job, but she didn’t want to do that, because it was not exactly what Darren was doing. She wanted to do what he was doing and nothing else. Real dedication, wouldn’t you say?

Many times in our Christian lives, people who are close to us or who respect us for one reason or another, will look at our lives and copy or do what we are doing – just like Alexa does with Darren. This could be a good thing, but many times it is not. In our verse for this week, Paul tells the Philippians to copy his example of following Christ. He is following Christ and desires that they do the same. We, as Christians, strive to live up to that name and try to live as Christ would want us to.

We have an awesome responsibility and one we should not take lightly. Are you a leader in the church? Are you a parent? Are you active in the community? Do you interact with other people at your workplace? Chances are if you say yes to any of these questions, then you have people who look at your life – maybe on a daily basis. What do those people see? What would a new Christian be looking for? Is your life looked upon as one that encourages and builds up others? Is it a joyful life? Is it one that faithfully serves Christ?

Alexa not only copies her brother; she copies other family members, teachers, her friends, and maybe even you and me. And, what’s more, her brother copies several people too; all children do to a certain extent. If they are copying me, I pray that I will give them a good Christian example to follow, like the Apostle Paul did. How about you?

I Corinthians 10:31

I Corinthians 10:31: Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. (KJV)

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (NIV)

About a month ago I went to a local Wal-mart store to pick up a few items. On my way in, I grabbed a cart and proceeded into the inside of the store. I noticed an elderly lady just ahead of me suddenly begin to turn in several directions as if she was looking for something. She noticed me and said, “Where do they have the carts?” I told her they were on the outside, so she turned in that direction and proceeded to go get her own cart. Then it hit me – I’m sure it was God who reminded me - why not give her the cart I had and I could go get another. So I called to her and said, “Here, take mine – I can get one later.” She was so grateful. In fact, I saw her a few minutes later and she thanked me again for giving her my cart. I felt really good inside until I thought – God was the one who prompted me to give her my cart and yet, instead of giving Him the glory and thankfulness, I was receiving the glory.

This would have been a perfect time to testify to the fact that I do these things because God wants me to and because He wants his love to be shown to others in any way possible. Just a week before this happened, I had gone to IMPACT, our church conference, and had been challenged to be in service to God – to be engaged in our world with other people in a way that glorifies Him. In I Peter 4:11 it says …if anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

We are not all called to be preachers, teachers or evangelists, but we are called to give glory to God, to serve Him in any way that we can. When we serve others that is one way of serving God. But if we don’t let others know that we are doing this service to please God, we might be the ones getting the glory and that should not be. Serve others, but glorify God as you serve.

Luke 20:25

Luke 20:25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s and unto God the things which be God’s. (KJV)
…He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (NIV)

Last week we were in Findlay, Ohio for IMPACT, our church conference, and the National Bible Quiz Finals. We have been studying the book of Luke for quizzing this past year and the young people did very well in the finals taking third place in both the junior and senior high divisions. We even had three of the young people place in the top ten for their division. Rosalie Wills placed third out of all the quizzers in the senior division and Chris and Ryan Munn tied for eighth place in the junior division. We congratulate all our quizzers on a job well done.

After the quizzing, we were privileged to hear several relevant and dynamic speakers. One of them used our verse for this week, a verse from Luke, that set me to thinking. We are to give “God what is God’s.” Well just what is God’s? The speaker pointed out that we, that is, all human beings, have been bought with a price. First Corinthians 6:20 says, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” God’s Son, Jesus, paid the penalty for our sins – he bought us with the blood he shed on Calvary. We could not pay the price ourselves by trying to do good works. We could never do enough good works to earn our way into Heaven. We were eternally lost – without hope – until Jesus bought us with his blood sacrifice. Since God did this for us, what should we do? We are to glorify God in our body and in our spirits. We are to serve God and give Him the glory for any good works we do. We don’t do good works in order to earn Heaven, because that could not happen. We do good work to glorify God, to honor Him, to thank Him for saving us.

IMPACT will not be held any more, but the conference plans to do some things that will help us be more “engaged” in showing Christ to the world. We hope this new emphasis will help us reach others with the gospel by Christians “becoming the hands and feet of Jesus.” How can I be more engaged in showing Christ to others? How can I give God what is God’s – How can I give myself to God? It is going to take more than just going to church. I might have to get my hands dirty. I might have to move my feet to places outside my comfort zone. In order to give God what is God’s, I must be more engaged in doing the things that Jesus wants me to do and not take credit myself, but give the credit to God. How about you? Are you willing to be God’s hands and feet?